At the time, we were excited. It had been our first time visiting the city, but as it was on official business, we couldn't call it a vacation.Each city was alike in having high-grade technology, but there was something unique about each one. In Iky City the streets had been lined with luxurious cars, and the citizens walked around in the finest clothes.The city had been a hub of wealth, glamour, and power.Some hours after the meeting, we had gone around for some sightseeing. There were luxurious stores and trendy cafés everywhere.The city was a home for the rich and famous. We were lucky to meet dignitaries and even took some pictures. The city had been a beacon of success and ambition but as our truck drove through, we met a different atmosphere.Everything had changed...The roads had dents, some buildings had cracks, and holes and a couple of them had been completely burnt down. The streets were deserted.Just like our city, the bodies of the infected lay scattered on the grou
"What about the other trucks that left with us? They should be on the same route as us, right?" I questioned. "You ask a lot of questions. We will all get to the stronghold soon," He replied before looking away.I was sure I wouldn't be receiving any more answers. There was no guarantee that the others were safe, but given the information I gathered when eavesdropping, it didn't seem like any truck had fallen into the hands of the infected.The reception on Mobile devices was down, and there was truly no means of personal communication at this time. I had tried over and over again along with the others.We were all suffering from the same situation.I honestly wished we could get there faster. I couldn't wait to see her.This was my last thought as I fell into another round of sleep.=====By the time I woke up, it was evening.The dim purplish evening sky stared back at me as I looked out of the window.We were still in the city, and I realized we had been driving for hours nonstop.
"Let's keep pushing... You can save lives in the future to make up for the ones you took," I muttered with a comforting gaze."You were and are still bad at giving motivational speeches," BJ nearly spat out his food after hearing my pep talk.I shrugged. "I try my best."We shared a small laugh, which reminded me of those days when we were carefree and young.We, of course, were still young, but we seemed to have aged a couple of years these past few weeks.I wanted to share the information I heard about the categorisation of the infected with him, but the truck wasn't a private space, and I didn't want anyone to hear our convos.Not having anything else to do, I laid my head back and drifted off to sleep, lulled by the other's voices.=====Bang!A shot woke me up immediately."What the hell is that?" I asked after the alarming wake.The others were awoken by the loud noise as well. I noticed the military officer beside me talking into his walkie-talkie."Darius! What's the situatio
"What is it? What's wrong?" Darius questioned with an alarmed tone.A few seconds passed before he gave a reply. "I... don't know... Maybe it was a tree,"I looked around and could only see trees around as the stronghold seemed to be deep in the forest.I wondered if the soldier had maybe seen another mutated monkey, but there was no indication of them. Also, I didn't feel like that reaction was appropriate, considering we already encountered them in the past."We can't take risks," Darius said and pressed a button on his device. "Private Samuel?""Over.""Notice anything out of place?""Nothing here.""Keep your eyes—"A voice in the background interrupted with a shout."Kiiiaaaarrhhhh!""What is it?"At that same instant, we looked out the windows with expressions of confusion when...The strangest thing I've ever seen since the start of this ordeal appeared in our line of sight.For a couple of seconds, I and the rest whose faces were focused on the window kept quiet while our eyes
[Unedited Chapter]*****Five days...Five days of having the same nightmare replayed each night. I thought it was all over since we were now safe in the stronghold but it only seemed to get worse.Each night, I woke up with perspiration on my body as though I'd been running a marathon.But it was only a nightmare. One that always began with the mutated infected human appearing and crushing the truck that was behind us.Then the infected would get blasted to pieces after the missile hit...This would have been a befitting end for the dream but then I'd find myself standing in the middle of the road where the other truck had been flattened...calling out a single name..."Hannah!"At this moment I would jolt awake with my whole body drenched in sweat as I breathed in and out profusely.The crushed truck disturbed my mental state to the point where I was having nightmares about it every night.I badly wanted to know who the occupants were.What made it worse was that the soldiers were a
[Unedited Chapter]It was like we were in another world. Still, I wondered if it was why we had been separated.Did they think we couldn't control ourselves?"We can't go... We haven't seen Hannah yet."Sofia immediately reminded me. "Maybe she is in another stronghold? Remember, the soldier said that they were others."I knew that. While we had been waiting for identification, I asked a soldier about the other trucks, and he mentioned that only a few had come in before us.Some people had also made their way here themselves.When I asked about the rest, he only shrugged and said there were other strongholds so the trucks could have gone there.Still, I was holding onto the words of Darius, who said that we were all passing the same route, which led to the big question.How did the trucks not all reach the camp, and if they didn't, what was causing their delay?I had counted six trucks then, which meant that two were in the stronghold, one was gone, and the remaining three were missin
[Unedited Chapter]I felt this had been easy for him to say since he was a military personnel. I already viewed people who killed others as heartless...The thing is... I am not you, Darius.To make him get off my back, I nodded and moved away.Now, I was trying to convince Emma about it, but my friend was stubborn."Tim, I understand you," He began."It's just the same with my family. Two nights ago, my mother woke up wishing to hold David in her hands. She wanted my father to return to get him, and if I could at that moment, I would have. Maybe Darius is right—""Emma, Hannah is still alive," I countered. "You can't write her off like she's already confirmed dead—"He shook his head. "I didn't mean that. I'm just saying that..." He looked lost for words and then continued after a few seconds..."She might still be alive, safe in a stronghold. I know the horror we faced on our way is still haunting you, but we are safe now and shouldn't do anything to change that. I'm sure she feels
[Unedited Chapter]"What about the QUAXs?" someone interrupted beside me.His smile and excited tone told made me feel like he had joined for a different reason, "Aren't we going out there with them?"The soldier glared. "Do not ever dare interrupt me! Never try it again!"After a few seconds of silence, he answered. "The battle QUAXs can only be used by professionals who intend to go all the way to battle the infected, which is not our job. It is also in limited numbers, so it can not just be randomly given out.You are a rescue and supply team, and your business doesn't lie with that. Also, the weapons here will be enough. In the right hands, anything can be used to kill!"The battle QUAXs was a good idea, but we were on a simpler task, and we were only going to get more attention to ourselves.I felt, a group with the purpose of gathering supplies and going on emergency rescue missions should be more solo.Although I and Emma would have loved to take our battle QUAX arm with us, it